(September 2009)
On the first day of Eid ul-Fitr or Hari Raya Aidilfitri, I went to Masjid Hidayatul (Hidayatul Mosque) in Chiang Mai city.
The atmosphere around the mosque was warm & festive. Everyone on the street was exchanging greetings with one another.
When I walked into the restaurant where I had the delicious Khao Soy a few days earlier, the owner recognized me and said, ‘today free!’
I soon realized that all the restaurants around the mosque was offering food & beverages for free to anyone who walked in. This is a tradition on the day after Ramadan.
I was immediately offered a delicious bowl of beef noodle with a tomato-based broth. The owner asked if I wanted a second bowl with chicken… hahaha… what do you think I said to that?
The restaurants were so packed with people that many had to stand and eat outside of the restaurants.
Due to my attire & the camera in my hand, I was obviously a tourist. This led to many of the shop and restaurant owners waving their hands to invite me to join them for a feast.
It was great to feel so welcome by so many strangers in a foreign place.
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